Mop for venetian blinds



p 1955 w. A. SATTERFIELD MOP FOR VENETIAN BLINDS Filed D60. 51, 1955 INVENTOR. Zion/134M211)" AT TORN E Y.

al MW United States Patent Office Patented Sept. 6, 1955 The present invention relates to a mop for Venetian blinds and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts herein described and claimed.

Generally the present invention constitutes an improved device of the character set forth in my co-pending application, Serial No. 338,097, filed February 20, 1953. In

the present invention, there is provided a plurality of block-like sponges rotatably mounted in vertically spaced relation upon the outer side of a supporting plate. v Upon the inner side of the supporting plate there is provided a novel means whereby all of the sponges may be tilted 1..

selectively in one direction or another by a mere manipulation of a pair of handles, such handles being attached to a pair of squeezing plates which are, in turn, hinged to either side of the supporting plate. Novel means is provided upon the squeezing plates for insuring a thorough I tures which will be brought forth in the annexed specification.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a device of the character set forth which is simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture and yet effective and efiicient in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a device of the character set forth, novel means for canting a plurality of sponge members forming a part of the invention.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a device of the character set forth, novel means for expelling water from a plurality of sponge elements, such means forming a part of the invention.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a device of the character set forth, a plurality of substantially V -shaped levers and a pair of actuating plates connected thereto, such levers and actuating plates forming parts of the invention.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary rear elevational view thereof,

Figure 3 is a plan View of the device illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 and showing the same in cleaning position,

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary rear elevational view, partly broken away, illustrating certain details of the invention, and

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the device in a position wherein Water is being squeezed from certain sponges forming a part of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is shown therein a vertically extending rectangular support,

plate 10 which presents its longer sides in a vertical direction. I-lingedly connected, as indicated at 11, to each of the longer sides of the support plate It) is an L-shaped squeezing plate 12 and centrally connected to each squeezing plate is an outstanding handle member 13. The handle members 13 are each provided adjacent their outer ends with undulating inner faces 14 which are adapted to coact, as indicated in Figure 3, to selectively register with one another so that the handle members 13 may be held in one hand of the user to act as a single handle. A plurality of horizontal shafts extends through the support plate 10 in vertically spaced relation to one another, such shafts being indicated at 15 and each provided at its outer end with a screw head 16 and provided with a suitable journal 17 where each shaft passes through the plate 10:

A mounting block 18, preferably formed of plastic material or the like and having rectangular cross sectional area is mounted upon the outer portion of the shaft 15, in each case, and each of such mounting blocks is provided with a flange 19 at its inner end, which flange is adapted to bear against the outer face of the plate 10.

Rernovably mounted upon each of the mounting blocks 18 is a block-like sponge 21} preferably formed of sponge rubber or like material and provided with a socket 21 for snugly receiving the block 18 therein, the sponge 2i) bearing at its inner end against the flange 19 when in mounted position as shown, for example, in Figure 4.

Keyed, as indicated at 22, to a flattened inner portion of each of the shafts 15 is an inverted V-shaped lever 23 having an opening conforming to the shape of the fiattened portion of shaft 15, which is held in position by means of a nut 24 threaded'upon a reduced inner end portion 25 of such shaft 15.

It will be apparent by referring to Figures 2 and 5, that all of the legs on one side of the levers 23 are pivotally connected to a vertically extending actuating plate 26, as indicated generally at 27 while the remaining legs of the levers 23 are pivotally connected. to a like vertically extending actuating plate 28, as indicated generally at 29, the plates 26 and 28 being provided, respectively, with beaded outer edges 30 and 31.

' An ear 32 is substantially centrally mounted upon the rear face of the support plate 10 between an adjacent pair of levers 23 and is connected by a pair of tension springs 33 and 34, respectively, with the ears 41, mounted on nut and 'bolt members 42 in plates 26 and 28. Upon the'outer face of each of the squeezing plates 12 there is affixed a marginal plate 35 which is provided with a plurality of inwardly directed recesses 36 each of which is adapted to register with an adjacent side of one of the sponges 20 when the squeezing plate 12 is brought into contact therewith. "The squeezing plates 12 are each provided with a plurality of holes 37 in each of the recesses 36 provided by the marginal plate 35. The handle members 13 are each mounted in a socket 38 provided centrally in each of the squeezing plates 12 and each of the sockets 38 is provided with a cammed outer face 39.

In operation, it will be apparent that when the handle members 13 are brought together as shown, for example, in Figures 1 and 3 by pivoting the squeezing plates 12 to expose the sponges 20, that the sponges 20 may be inserted between adjacent slats (indicated at 40 in dotted lines in Figure l) of a Venetian blind, having previously wetted the sponges 20, it will be apparent that by utilizing the handle members 13 in one hand, and moving the same in a horizontal direction, that the sponges 20 Will act to clean such slats on both sides thereof. The entire device may then be dipped into clean water whereupon the handle members 13 and their attached squeezing plates 12 may be swung around to the position shown, for example, in

faces 39 to come into selective contact with either the beaded edge 30 or the beaded edge 31. By exerting pressure in this manner, for example, upon the beaded edge 30, it will be apparent that the actuating plate 26 will be moved in a downward direction, as viewed in Figure 2, to thus rotate all of the levers 23 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in this figure. This action will cause a corresponding rotation of each of the shafts and consequently a canting of all of the sponges 20. In such position, it will be apparent that one of the lower corner edges of each sponge will impinge against an upper surface of an adjacent slat 40 while an upper corner edge of such sponge will impinge against the underside of its adjacent slat 40. In this position, the device may be moved horizontally and the slats throughout thoroughly dried upon each of their sides where they come into contact with such sponges. It will also be apparent that by manipulating the device so that the beaded edge 31 is impinged against by its associated cammed surface 39, that the sponges will be canted in an opposite direction, thus making it possible for the device to be used with ease by both right-handed and left-handed persons. It will also be apparent that when the sponges are squeezed in the manner above set forth, that the marginal members 35 will act to partially hold such sponge members against vertical expansion thus insuring a greater squeezing of water therefrom, the water so squeezed from the sponges passing through the openings or holes 37.

While but one form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minor modifications may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a support plate, a plurality of outwardly extending sponges mounted in parallel spaced relation on one side of said support plate, a pair of handles operatively connected to said plate and means carried by said support plate operable by said handles for canting said sponges with relation to said plate, said canting means including a shaft for each sponge, an inverted V-shaped lever afiixed to each shaft, a pair of elongated operating plates each interconnecting one end of each of said levers, a beaded edge for each of said operating plates, a cammed surface on each of said handles adapted to bear against the beaded edge of the adjacent operating plate, and spring means for normally maintaining said operating plates in horizontal registry.

2. A device of the character described comprising a support plate, a plurality of outwardly extending sponges mounted in parallel spaced relation on one side of said support plate, a pair of handles operatively connected to said plate, and means carried by said support plate operable by said handles for selectively canting said sponges in either direction with relation to said plate, said canting means including a shaft for each sponge, an inverted V-shaped lever atfixed to each shaft, a pair of elongated operating plates each interconnecting one end of each of said levers, a beaded edge for each of said operating plates, a cammed surface on each of said handles adapted to bear against the beaded edge of the adjacent operating plate, and spring means for normally maintaining said operating plates in horizontal registry.

3. A device of the character described comprising a support plate, a plurality of outwardly extending sponges mounted in parallel spaced relation on one side of said support plate, a pair of squeezing plates hingedly connected to opposite side edges of said support plate, a handle extending from the free side of each of said squeezing plates, and means carried by said support plate operable by said handles for canting said sponges in relation to said plate, said handles adaptable for bringing said squeezing plates into squeezing engagement with the opposite sides of said sponges, said canting means including a shaft for each sponge, an inverted V-shaped lever affixed to each shaft, a pair of elongated operating plates each interconnecting one end of each of said levers, a beaded edge for each of said operating plates, a cammed surface on each of said handles adapted to bear against the beaded edge of the adjacent operating plate, and spring means for normally maintaining said operating plates in horizontal registry.

4. A device of the character described comprising an elongated support plate, a plurality of outwardly extending sponges, mounted in parallel spaced relation on one side of said support plate, an L-shaped squeezing plate having an elongated side portion and a narrow base portion hingedly connected to each elongated side of the support plate, a marginal plate having recesses therein adapted to receive side portions of said sponges mounted on each squeezing plate, handle means centrally mounted on each squeezing plate for bringing the plates into squeez ing engagement with opposite sides of said sponges and means carried by said support plate operable by said handles for turning said sponges about an axis at right angles to said support plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 565,589 Ballam Aug. 11, 1896 1,231,093 Sundeen June 26, 1917 1,912,543 Sendler June 21, 1931 2,014,488 Bates Sept. 17, 1935 2,044,075 Jelenfy June 16, 1936 2,658,221 Nicole Nov. 10, 1953 2,663,046 Goguen Dec. 22, 1953 

